Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority making repairs after Channel 11 showed homes flooded with sewage

PITTSBURGH — Channel 11 reported last week that people living in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood had their basements flooded with raw sewage.

“Once we got on Channel 11 News, it got exposed and now people are understanding and looking more into what they were before,” said Duane Ringgold. Every time he or one of his family members used the bathroom, they’d have to go to the basement and scrape human waste into a drain after it came up through the basement floor.

Now, things are somewhat different after Channel 11 got involved and contacted the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.

“It’s not as bad as it was and it’s gradually going away,” Ringgold said. “I’ve noticed that there has been crews in the area, none of them actually close.”

“I’m hoping they’ll finally understand what the situation is because they came out last week as well,” said Gerald Marshman, who owns property on Race Street.

Channel 11 learned his is one of six homes having sewage problems on both Race and Monticello streets.

Marshman told Channel 11 he’s spent $8,000 trying to fix the problems and that they started after PWSA crews came out and fixed a sinkhole behind his property.

“If they damaged my lateral, then it’s on them to fix it,” he said. “If they damaged it coming out here doing all this paving, then that’s on them.”

Smell of sewage leaves Pittsburgh area family searching for answers

Below are the statements and information Channel 11 obtained from PWSA:

Monticello Street

On Thursday, May 13, PWSA inspected the properties at 7328 and 7332 Monticello St. We found minor defects to the public sewer main and large obstructions in the building’s private sewer main. Our urgent sewer contractor is repairing the defects to the public sewer main beginning tomorrow, replacing some damaged pipe components and reconnecting the building’s sewer. Our work includes all needed repairs up to the property line. We will conduct another inspection when the repairs are complete and will notify the property owners of any repairs they may need to make.

We are replacing a section of damaged 12-inch sewer main on Fuchsia Way that services homes on Monticello Street. Our contract crew will replace approximately 15 feet of the pipe that is located 16 feet below ground. It will take three days to complete the repairs.

Race Street Properties

The public sewer main serving the properties on Race Street is clear and flowing. The private sewer lateral, which is shared by several properties, is damaged and is causing the backups they are experiencing. This has been referred to the Plumbing Division of the Allegheny County Health Department, and the division will be following up with the property owners.

A spokesperson for PWSA also told Channel 11 they found minor defects to the public sewer main and large obstructions in the building’s private sewer main.

They will conduct another inspection when the repairs are complete and will notify the property owners of any needed repairs.

Cox Media Group